Editor's Note: R. Albert Mohler Jr. is president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world.

By R. Albert Mohler Jr., Special to CNN

(CNN)–Cultural upheavals often occur in the most surprising contexts. Who expected that a clash between sexuality and religious liberty would be focused on a restaurant company mainly known for its chicken sandwiches?

And yet the controversy over Chick-fil-A is a clear sign that religious liberty is at risk and that this nation has reached the brink of tyrannical intolerance from at least some of our elected leaders.

The controversy ignited when Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy, son of the company’s legendary founder, Truett Cathy, told a Baptist newspaper that he and his company “operate on biblical principles” and “are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit.”

Defining Chick-fil-A as “a family business,” Cathy went on to say that “We intend to stay the course. … We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”

Media attention to Cathy’s comments revealed a radio interview he had given a few weeks earlier in which he commented that “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at (God) and say, ‘We know better than You what constitutes a marriage.'

“I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think we would have the audacity to redefine what marriage is all about,” he said.

Within days, elected officials in Chicago, Boston and New York were pledging to deny the company access to their cities.

“Because of (Dan Cathy’s) ignorance, I will deny Chick-fil-A a permit to open a restaurant in my ward,” Chicago Alderman Proco Moreno said, in a threat echoed by
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was just as blunt: “Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston,” he said. “We’re an open city. We’re a city at the forefront of inclusion.”

But the kind of inclusion he had in mind would evidently exclude Chick-fil-A.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who just recently married her lesbian partner, called upon New York University to kick Chick-fil-A off its campus.

Echoing the Boston mayor’s lack of irony, she also called for exclusion in the name of inclusion: “We are a city that believes our diversity is our greatest strength, and we will fight anything and anyone that runs counter to that.”

Within days, Moreno, Emanuel and Menino had qualified their statements somewhat, promising to operate within the law and constitutional limits. Those clarifications became necessary when legal authorities quickly recognized threatened violations of First Amendment rights.

To his credit, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an ardent supporter of same-sex marriage, warned, “You can’t have a test for what the owner’s personal views are before you decide to give a permit to do something in the city.”

Note carefully that Chick-fil-A was not charged with discrimination in hiring or service but simply with the fact that its president and chief operating officer supports traditional marriage.

Note something else: Dan Cathy’s statements were explicitly religious. He made his comments to the religious press, including a Baptist newspaper. His comments were infused with his Christian convictions, the same convictions that have led the company to close for business every Sunday.

The threats made against Chick-fil-A betray the principle of religious liberty that is enshrined within the U.S. Constitution. Civic officials in some of the nation’s largest and most powerful cities have openly threatened to oppose Chick-fil-A for the singular reason that its president openly spoke of his Christian convictions concerning marriage.

When Quinn, one of the most powerful officials in New York, announces, “I do not want establishments in my city that hold such discriminatory views,” is she also threatening the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Jewish synagogues and Islamic mosques?

They, along with evangelical Christian denominations, openly oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage. Cathy’s statements are completely consistent with his own denomination’s statement of faith and official declarations. He was speaking as a Christian and as a Southern Baptist, and he was speaking as a man who does his best to live and speak as he believes.

When Emanuel and Moreno tell Chick-fil-A to stay out of Chicago, are they audacious enough to deliver that same message to the churches, mosques and synagogues of their city that also oppose same-sex marriage? What do they do with the fact that their own state does not allow same-sex marriages?

This country is deeply divided over the issue of same-sex marriage, and the controversy over Chick-fil-A is an ominous sign that many of the proponents of same-sex marriage are quite willing to violate religious liberty and to use any and all means to silence and punish any individual or organization that holds the contrary view – a view sustained by the voters in 29 states by constitutional amendments.

Addressing the intersection of same-sex marriage and religious liberty, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley has warned that the government must not be “viewed as unfairly trying to pre-determine the debate or harass one side.”

That is exactly what some elected officials have just shown themselves ready to do. It will not stop with Chick-fil-A. Who will be next to be told to get out of town?

Disclosures:

I know Dan and Truett Cathy and other members of the Cathy family. Truett has spoken on our campus. I have prayed at the opening of multiple Chick-fil-A locations. I serve on the board of directors of Focus on the Family, which has been supported by Chick-fil-A. My son, Christopher, is a part-time service employee of a local Chick-fil-A restaurant in Louisville. I have not communicated with Chick-fil-A about this column.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of R. Albert Mohler Jr.

soundoff(3,216 Responses)

Keith

People need to stand up against these ho..mo-facists. They try to intimidate others and even imply the use of physical violence. Screw them. How stupid have we become when we allow very small minority intimidate us?

July 31, 2012 at 12:25 pm |

kindless

Oh Keith – when you say screw them, it gets me all tingly and engorged!

July 31, 2012 at 12:38 pm |

Which God??

Keith says: "Stand up against those ho.mo.facists." So, Keith you wanna get 'close' to them, hmmm? Thought you protested too much.

July 31, 2012 at 12:50 pm |

LoveChicken

Hey Keith, Don't listen to the FRUITCAKES, Their radical intolerance is letting the American people see them for who they truly are, hatefilled, mean spirited intoerant nazis, just like their leader (NObama).....

Gay marriage is wrong, but gays can be released from their sin by God's Grace in Jesus.

"Within days, elected officials in Chicago, Boston and New York were pledging to deny the company access to their cities."

I guess we as Christians should not meddle in public affairs too much. If the temporal rulers want allow gay marriage, let them marry. The only thing what we can do is to tell the temporal rulers that God will not be very enthusiastic about gay marriage, and when God puts his food down in heaven it could cause an earthquake on earth.

Gayness and gay marriage are a clear indicator for disbelief. Someone cannot be a gay and a Christian at the same time. That is impossible. Yet, one should be aware that there are many other sins which cause God's wrath: glutony, addiction for drugs and alcohol, greed for honor, power and riches, anger, hate, lie, envy, etc., etc.. If someone judges a gay, he should be aware that he himself may be judged by his own sins.

At any rate we cannot allow gays to be Church members or to frequent church services, or to call themselves Christians. A man must decide, if he wants to be a sinner or a saint. Nobody can be a saint and a sinner at the same time. The Church is the "club" of the saints, but not the club of the sinners. Before a gay can become a church member, he has to repent.

We as Christians have to treat them kindly. This is the clear will of God. Even if they are not willing to accept Jesus, we still shall treat them kindly. If we love the sinners, we tell them the gospel without words.

Let us remember that Christ died for us, when we still were sinners, and some of us needed many decades to realize God's releasing Grace in Jesus Christ. As long as we live together on earth we must imply that everybody can still become a believer, even if he is about to die (that doesn't mean that you, dear reader, should not convert right now).

Let us also keep in mind that our body is still sinful, and by any misfortune we can commit heavy sins too. Don't let us neglect the morning prayer where we invite Jesus to rule us, so that our sinful body may not prevail. Let us remember our King David who made some mistakes (notice: David's mistakes are no excuse for a perpetual sinning; David repented after a while, and his faith was restored; we will meet him in heaven).

A Christian is only a sinner which is wrapped into God's releasing Grace or into Jesus. Only by God's Grace a Christian overcomes the sinfulness of his body. So, a Christian has no reason to become proud, because all glory belongs to God who releases us. Once, we will cast our crowns before him, if we have deserved a crown.

http://confessingchurch.wordpress.com

July 31, 2012 at 12:24 pm |

Cq

Disbelief in the ultra-conservative forms of religion that see gayness as wrong, but there are growing numbers of religious groups, including Christian ones, that are fully accepting of gays and do not see gay relationships or marriage as sinful in any way. In 20 years people will be talking about the last holdouts against gay marriage like they talk about the pastors who still refuse to marry blacks, or mixed couples in their churches. How does it feel, Rainer, to be an endangered species?

July 31, 2012 at 12:37 pm |

Which God??

Rabid Rainey is at it again, spewing his rubbish. No though as to the latest medical findings, just his xtianity showing. Hey idiot, gays can't be cured by accepting yout christ. First of all, he never existed.. Secondly, ignoring medical scienc shows that you are willfully ignorant. If there ever is a second c.oming of your christ (doubful in the extreme), you better hope it isn't gonna be in your butt. AHHHH, jesus is c.oooooming!

July 31, 2012 at 12:39 pm |

netofunk

I'm afraid of you. Very, very afraid.

July 31, 2012 at 5:12 pm |

Deanna

When you demand that your religion be the basis for law, you are promoting a Theocracy. Give up your tax exempt status and we'll talk again.

July 31, 2012 at 11:55 pm |

tallulah13

Let us remember that there is more proof that hom.os.exuality is determined in the womb than there is proof to support the existence of any god. Therefore, the only reason for continued discrimination against gays and lesbians is the personal belief of people who base their decisions upon a book of mythology.

August 1, 2012 at 12:05 am |

Cerista

At any rate we cannot allow gays to be Church members or to frequent church services, or to call themselves Christians. A man must decide, if he wants to be a sinner or a saint. Nobody can be a saint and a sinner at the same time. The Church is the "club" of the saints, but not the club of the sinners. Before a gay can become a church member, he has to repent.
*
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"

Chick fil A is not my favorite place to eat, but it is becoming it after reading these stupid posts!

July 31, 2012 at 12:20 pm |

nigel

Stupid is as stupid does.

August 1, 2012 at 3:09 am |

Kt

And people use to say that the Civil Rights Movement put American's liberty under threat too. What's the difference between a traditionally held racist belief and a traditionally held religious one?

July 31, 2012 at 12:16 pm |

L Rivera

The difference is that a racist belief is wrong, and a religious one can be right. For example, do not steal is in the ten commandments.

August 1, 2012 at 12:52 am |

CherylS

Bravo, Kt. Well said.

August 1, 2012 at 3:19 pm |

Kestraf

There's no threat to his, or any Christian's religious liberty. He's not being thrown in jail for his beliefs. His restaurants are not being being forced to close because of his statements.

Free speech does not mean you're immune from response or criticism for your beliefs. The owner (and supporters) of Chick-Fil-A have exercised their right to free speech. So are the people who disagree with them. Welcome to America – we don't all agree with you. You have a right to your beliefs and to use them to dictate how YOU live, but you do not have a right to force your beliefs as the rule over other people.

There's no problem here. I find it quite hypocritical of the author of this piece, a member of a group that has sponsored many boycotts of businesses based on their policies that don't fall in line with Baptist teachings, are suddenly crying that their rights are being oppressed simply because others with a different viewpoint are exercising the same right – to decide where and how to spend their hard-earned dollars.

July 31, 2012 at 12:15 pm |

Cq

Exactly, he is exercising his freedom of speech and so are his critics. If religious groups can mount protests and boycotts against companies like Disney for being gay-friendly then why can't groups do the same against his company? It's almost as though people are still living in the Middle Ages when they could expect people to be burnt at the stake for blasphemy. Face it, religion doesn't have the same level of special protection that it once did.

July 31, 2012 at 12:28 pm |

Which God??

Kestraf, lemme shake you hand!

July 31, 2012 at 12:41 pm |

ava

I agree wholeheartedly, with the exception of one thing. Cathy DID NOT hurl his beliefs on anyone. He never stated his beliefs would influence who they hire or who they allow into their restaurants. And yet his restaurants are being banned from select cities. I think that if you disagree with Cathy's beliefs then simply cast your opinion on the matter by not eating there or holding a protest. But banning an establishment from operating a business that in no way impedes its religious values within their operation is beyond just "voicing an opinion". And by the way, I promise if you look up ANY company that offers products you purchase you'll find an owner who has values that differ from yours, even though their beliefs in no way impede on the products you purchase.

July 31, 2012 at 8:43 pm |

Dan

Except he did not force his beliefs on anyone, he was asked a question and gave his opinion. Which because of his opinion does not agree with certain city government officials those government officials want to deny them permits to operate in their city infringes on the company's rights.

July 31, 2012 at 9:33 pm |

Bobby

I agree with you Kestraf. To the dissenters here, let me remind you that he didn't just give his opinion as an individual but as the representative of the corporation. He didn't use the pronoun "I" in stating his beliefs but "we", indicating Chic-fil-A as a company supports this decision. Also, none of his businesses will be closing from this, with the possible exception of NYU. These mayors are merely saying they won't sign permits for them, which they have a right to deny if they feel the company could potentially treat its employees unequal. Which, lets admit it, if a company declares itself a Christian company with a set motive, it could discourage applicants who don't fit within this spectrum. All of this is, honestly, why most corporations keep their controversial donations kept silent.

August 1, 2012 at 12:00 am |

CherylS

It is people like the author of this article that are driving people away from religion. Why should anyone want to be a part of anything that is so hypocritical?

August 1, 2012 at 3:24 pm |

conaid

Yay for discrimination against Christians. I mean really, who cares? The root of this 'evil' is that it's fast food, Who eats that crap anyway? I am a married gay woman with twin boys. Do I care if Chick-Fillet (or whatever their name is) doesn't like us then so be it. I have never eaten there and will never eat there. I don't like the fact that a book says we are an abomination but does it mess up my day...no.

July 31, 2012 at 12:15 pm |

Cq

While not all of them, isn't it a fair guess that the people who do violence and who bully gays are amongst those who support this movement against gay marriage?

"Within days, elected officials in Chicago, Boston and New York were pledging to deny the company access to their cities."

I guess we as Christians should not meddle in public affairs too much. If the temporal rulers want allow gay marriage, let them marry. The only thing what we can do is to tell the temporal rulers that God will not be very enthusiastic about gay marriage, and when God puts his food down in heaven it could cause an earthquake on earth.

Gayness and gay marriage are a clear indicator for disbelief. Someone cannot be a gay and a Christian at the same time. That is impossible. Yet, one should be aware that there are many other sins which cause God's wrath: glutony, addiction for drugs and alcohol, greed for honor, power and riches, anger, hate, lie, envy, etc., etc.. If someone judges a gay, he should be aware that he himself may be judged by his own sins.

At any rate we cannot allow gays to be Church members or to frequent church services, or to call themselves Christians. A man must decide, if he wants to be a sinner or a saint. Nobody can be a saint and a sinner at the same time. The Church is the "club" of the saints, but not the club of the sinners. Before a gay can become a church member, he has to repent.

We as Christians have to treat them kindly. This is the clear will of God. Even if they are not willing to accept Jesus, we still shall treat them kindly. If we love the sinners, we tell them the gospel without words.

Let us remember that Christ died for us, when we still were sinners, and some of us needed many decades to realize God's releasing Grace in Jesus Christ. As long as we live together on earth we must imply that everybody can still become a believer, even if he is about to die (that doesn't mean that you, dear reader, should not convert right now).

Let us also keep in mind that our body is still sinful, and by any misfortune we can commit heavy sins too. Don't let us neglect the morning prayer where we invite Jesus to rule us, so that our sinful body may not prevail. Let us remember our King David who made some mistakes (notice: David's mistakes are no excuse for a perpetual sinning; David repented after a while, and his faith was restored; we will meet him in heaven).

A Christian is only a sinner which is wrapped into God's releasing Grace or into Jesus. Only by God's Grace a Christian overcomes the sinfulness of his body. So, a Christian has no reason to become proud, because all glory belongs to God who releases us. Once, we will cast our crowns before him, if we have deserved a crown.

July 31, 2012 at 12:15 pm |

Jill

Rainer, don't obfuscate the primary prenuptials with rasberries. Often, the pertinent cat presents fabled necessities in the parking chamfer. Realize your net precedent. Triangulate! Save the best for the alligators. Ever the bastille notches the orchestra but Wendy is not green and horses will capitulate. Filter out the log from the turnstile and cry prevalently.

So there brown stare. Feed your inner walnut and resolve. Subject your lemon to the ingenious door in the presence of snow and animals. Aisle 7 is for the monetary cheese whiz. Faced with the kitchen, you may wish to prolong the sailboat in the cliff. Otherwise, rabbits may descend on your left nostril. Think about how you can stripe the sea.

Regale the storm to those who (6) would thump the parrot with the armband. Corner the market on vestiges of the apparent closure but seek not the evidential circumstance. Therein you can find indignant mountains of pigs and apples. Descend eloquently as you debate the ceiling of your warning fulcrum. Vacate the corncob profusely and and don’t dote on the pancreas.

Next up, control your wood. Have at the cat with your watch on the fore. Aft! Smarties (12)! Rome wasn’t kevetched in an autumn nightie. (42) See yourself for the turntable on the escalator. Really peruse the garage spider definitely again again with brown. Now we have an apparent congestion, so be it here. Just a moment is not a pod of beef for the ink well nor can it be (4) said that Karen was there in the millpond.

Garbage out just like the candle in the kitty so. Go, go, go until the vacuum meets the upward vacation. Sell the yellow. Then trim the bus before the ten cheese please Louise. Segregate from the koan and stew the ship vigorously.

And remember, never pass up an opportunity to watch an elephant paint Mozart.

July 31, 2012 at 12:17 pm |

Dennis

We love you Jill.

July 31, 2012 at 12:22 pm |

Just thinking

I am seriously concerned about your statements...As a fellow Christian, I can not believe you state that Gays can not be Christians....and why not? God loves the person not the sin. Our churches are full of people who are adulterers, alcoholics etc. My last church had a Pastor who committed adultery and stepped down from the pulpit but didn't stop going to church. In your view, because he sinned, he is no longer a Christian. I have news for you, we are NOT Saints and never will be...we are to STRIVE to be Christ like but will never be perfect or take His place. What about Christians who live together before they are married...our churches are FULL of fornicators!! Are they not Christians either?? Your thinking is very skewed in the WRONG direction. I have several gay friends and love them dearly...don't like the life they are living but that is between them and the Lord...not me!

July 31, 2012 at 12:37 pm |

Which God??

Hey Rain-man. Give it a rest with your long winded drivel. Not worth the electrons you disurb.

July 31, 2012 at 12:43 pm |

Cq

Just thinking
Lots of Christians don't see having gay relations as sinful in itself. They see it as just another of the many laws in the Bible that aren't applicable within modern society. Have you ever read A.J. Jacobs' "The Year of Living Biblically"? Every believer picks and chooses what laws to follow in the Bible.

July 31, 2012 at 12:45 pm |

jenner

I have no problem with what they want to believe...I do have a problem with them financially supporting anti-gay groups. It just serves to continue breeding hate and intolerance. It flabbergasts me how often Christians act so un-Christian; at least I can make up my own mind and opinions independent of an IMO book of fiction. Sadly, I really enjoy their chicken sandwiches, but will no longer eat there.

July 31, 2012 at 12:11 pm |

Just thinking

Please do not lump all Christians together. Some of us do understand the concept of what you do is between you and God and choose not to judge others. When all Christians get lumped together, it makes us look "un Christian"...just say "some Christians"...

July 31, 2012 at 12:40 pm |

Xavier

Just like Gandhi said "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." This is so true. Personally I cant stand most christians. Who the hell cares what happens in the bedroom of two consenting adults.

July 31, 2012 at 8:46 pm |

Jason Shoots

Tomorrow, Chik-fil-a, will be so busy!

July 31, 2012 at 12:06 pm |

William Demuth

In the past week we have had Christians reject commerce and worship from both blacks and gays.

When will the victims ever have the courage to get out?

Most African American are descended form Muslim's who were kidnapped and made into slaves.

July 31, 2012 at 12:05 pm |

Ting

I'm baffled why any African American or any female would want to be member of that club.

July 31, 2012 at 12:11 pm |

kme

Chick-a-fil is free to run its business on whatever principles it wishes. We who know those principles are free, then, to go there or not. End of debate.

Chick-Fil-A forces it's franchisees to post religious crap on the wall, and forces employees to pray. If this was about a Muslim complany forcing it's employees to pray, the fundies would be having a stroke.

July 31, 2012 at 12:06 pm |

Jimmy

I think it is an advantage for Chick-fil-A to know where not to open for business. Seems like a simple process, if you don't stand to make a lot of money, then why would you invest in that area. There's plenty of support out there and maybe they should now focus on selling their product to their own kind.

July 31, 2012 at 11:59 am |

J.W

If people really want a Chick-Fil-a they could gather a peti.tion and submit it to the local government.

July 31, 2012 at 12:12 pm |

kme

Dear old people,

This issue is over, finished, done, finito. Get over it. No one under 40 cares.

"...this nation has reached the brink of tyrannical intolerance..."

The fact that this man can't see which direction the intolerance actually flows is proof his point of view is not worth reading any further.

'I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at (God)'

Where have we heard this before? Cathy needs to put away his ancient book of myths and join us in the 21st century.

July 31, 2012 at 11:56 am |

rAmen

The One True God Flying Spaghetti Monster disapproves Cathy's message

July 31, 2012 at 11:57 am |

Bob

All hail (and eat) His noodly goodness.

RAmen.

July 31, 2012 at 12:03 pm |

lisaw

as long as these businesses comply with the laws of the area I see no reason to deny a permit to build. I do think there is a freedeom issue, ppl are free to donate teir money to whatever hateful places they want. I for one will never give my money to such a place but that is up to individuals to decide, not have government decide it for us.

July 31, 2012 at 11:55 am |

Which God??

lisaw, I will have to agree with you on this. They should be able to build where they can. I vote with my wallet, so will not eat there any longer. I do have to point out though, that if you do make it part of your stores' philosophy to discriminate in any way, then you don't need to be issuesd a permit to build.

Honestly, I think that if those of the faith don't like the idea of Gay Marriage, then they don't have to be the ones to marry them. However, I don't think it's fair to exclude them from the idea of marriage when it's not like it's your personal marriage is under threat.
Both parties are at fault here, but that's okay, because that's just how our country works. No-one takes the blame here, they all point the finger at someone else.

And just because something is not tolerated by the faith does not mean it isn't practiced by some of its' followers...

July 31, 2012 at 11:55 am |

MarknTx

"Brcc wrote:
First, racism or any personal hatred towards an individual is not tolerated by the Christian faith, so there is nothing to "hide behind." Second, it is a fact that Christianity (as well as other religious faiths) have viewed marriage only between a man and woman for thousands of years."

Because there would never be an issue at a "Christian" church over 1 man 1 woman wedding right?
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/30/church-that-barred-black-wedding-affirms-commitment-to-equal-treatment/

And Polygamy is never mentioned in the Bible? I find it funny how little self proclaimed "Christians" like to be selective on their passages.

July 31, 2012 at 11:54 am |

Jan

Polygamy was mentioned, but not in a good way. Never endorsed or recommended as a way of life ....anywhere. The Bible, being historically accurate, records that it happened.

Dan Cathy &ChicFilA are free to run their business as the see fit, free to run it based on their selected biblical principles. The problem that many people have with them is their financial support of anti-gay hate groups. They can run their business as they want, just as I can decide to spend my money/support businesses that support my belief system.

July 31, 2012 at 11:54 am |

Interesting

Back in 2008 a man was elected president who openly stated that he believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Yet it's safe to assume most of you still voted for him even though his stance on the matter remained that way until a mere few months ago. You don't see the hypocrisy in that? Obama wasn’t saying hated gay people, he just believed in traditional marriage. The owners of Chick-Fil-A are saying no more and no less.

If you don’t like something, vote with your dollars and by taking your money elsewhere. No matter how you spin it, it’s wrong for a politician to unilaterally stop a law abiding business from opening its doors because of their religious beliefs. If the Bill of Rights and our liberty is to survive, we all have to stand up for it even when it protects people we disagree with.

You said, "Back in 2008 a man was elected president who openly stated that he believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Yet it's safe to assume most of you still voted for him even though his stance on the matter remained that way until a mere few months ago."
Once the choice was whittled down to Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden on one side and the dimwit-and-a-half on the other, it was amazing it was as close as it was.

Sane voters aren't single issue voters (although I hope that evangelicals will grow a spine and stand their ground and vote for the one "real" christian left in the race), they weigh all factors.

July 31, 2012 at 11:59 am |

pm

They only thing being discriminated against is the Chick-fil-A pres. Dan Cathy's religious convictions. The only crime this man is guilty of is expressing his belief in the traditional family unit and values. That is it. All of the complaints against this company derive from malevolent speculation about how Chistian values allegedly violate the civil liberties ot deviant minorities. It's completely absurd that Christian values are detrimental to business practice, and clearly exposes the bias the media and govt have against Christianity.

July 31, 2012 at 11:53 am |

HeavenSent

We are free to say anything we want. Is it always wise in the business realm with "customers"? This is a great learning opportunity for Mr. Cathy.

July 31, 2012 at 11:56 am |

Bob

No, actually, Christian values, when you look at what is really presented in the bible, are loaded with hatred, bigotry, and violence, so it is great to see people speaking out against them. America might finally be starting to shake off its supersti.tions such as Christianity, and that would be fantastic to have happen. The Christian bible, claimed to be a "holy" text, has horrid incitements and instructions to do violence and hateful acts like these:

Numbers 31:17-18
17 Now kiII all the boys. And kiII every woman who has slept with a man,
18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Deuteronomy 13:6 – “If your brother, your mother’s son or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods … you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death”

Revelations 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Note that the bible is also very clear that you should sacrifice and burn an animal today because the smell makes sicko Christian sky fairy happy. No, you don't get to use the parts for food. You burn them, a complete waste of the poor animal.

Yes, the bible really says that, everyone. Yes, it's in Leviticus, look it up. Yes, Jesus purportedly said that the OT commands still apply. No exceptions. But even if you think the OT was god's mistaken first go around, you have to ask why a perfect, loving enti-ty would ever put such horrid instructions in there. If you think rationally at all, that is.

And then, if you disagree with my interpretation, ask yourself how it is that your "god" couldn't come up with a better way to communicate than a book that is so readily subject to so many interpretations and to being taken "out of context", and has so many mistakes in it. Pretty pathetic god that you've made for yourself.

So get out your sacrificial knife or your nasty sky creature will torture you eternally. Or just take a closer look at your foolish supersti-tions, understand that they are just silly, and toss them into the dustbin with all the rest of the gods that man has created.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

July 31, 2012 at 12:01 pm |

Bob

Really, Bob! Sky fairies, animal sacrifice, amputees ... You are a slave to a fantasy life that some people can only dream of. Maybe not having a religion of some sort is causing something like phantom limb pain.

Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/

July 31, 2012 at 12:09 pm |

Jan

Bob – Jesus did NOT say that the OT laws apply today. Research a little more and you will find that He explicitly did away with the myriad of laws and required sacrifices. I am glad that you are reading, I just wish you would read a little more....

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